Opening date revealed for new ‘world-class' 9,000-capacity music venue in Scots city
It is predicted that it'll bring £520million in for the city a year
RAISE THE ROOF Opening date revealed for new 'world-class' 9,000-capacity music venue in Scots city
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THE opening date for a new 8,500-capacity music venue in a Scots city has been revealed.
We previously told how AEG submitted proposals for a site in the Edinburgh Park area back in November 2023.
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The opening date of the new Edinburgh venue has been announced
Credit: Getty
The firm behind London's iconic O2 Arena is now set to begin work on the venue early in 2026 after confirming funding has been secured.
The venue, which will span a 200,000 sq ft site in the Edinburgh Park area, is due to open in March 2028, reports The Herald.
And tickets for the first show are expected to go on sale by 2027 according to the £80million project's timeline.
It will form part of the Capital's new "urban quarter" being developed in the Edinburgh Park region on the outskirts of the city.
The firm has earmarked an area north of the Edinburgh Park tram stop and train station.
Branded the Edinburgh Park Arena for the moment, event bosses are hoping to rename the building when a headline corporate sponsor is agreed.
It has been predicted to bring in more than £520million for the city's economy year on year.
AEG says they have had 'strong interest' in the naming rights for the arena, which is set to become 'one of the UK's most iconic venues" attracting huge names to Edinburgh.
The project was approved by Edinburgh city council last year, is expected to attract around 700,000 visitors a year, and create 1300 new jobs once open.
Until now, the largest indoor venues in the capital included the 3000-capacity Corn Exchange, while the Usher Hall can fit around 2900 if seats are removed.
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The Royal Highland Centre can also accommodate around 9000 in their largest space, the Highland Hall.
Alistair Wood, executive vice-president of real estate and development at AEG Europe, said: 'Securing planning permission last year allowed us to move ahead with our plans, from progressing design work to entering discussions with contractors and sub-contractors.
'We have funding in place, and now we're in the procurement phase. Once we have a final design, suppliers and contractors we'll break ground. We hope to begin construction early in 2026.
'We're excited to start the build process as soon as possible so that we can bring world-class acts to Edinburgh.
"We're hoping that the new arena will open its doors during the first quarter of 2028, with fans able to purchase tickets to the first shows during 2027."
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